The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards brought designers, models and celebrities to New York’s American Museum of Natural History on 2 November. Hosted by Keke Palmer, the ceremony celebrated American fashion, with the red carpet showcasing archival designs, contemporary eveningwear and unconventional tailoring. STORY previously explored another approach to celebrity red-carpet dressing in its 2026 MTV VMAs best-dressed feature.
Among the standout looks were Keke Palmer in vintage Bob Mackie, Gracie Abrams in Colleen Allen and Demi Moore in a custom denim gown by GapStudio. Saint Laurent also had a strong presence, with Zoë Kravitz and Rosé wearing gold designs by Anthony Vaccarello, who received the International Designer of the Year award.
Keke Palmer
Host Keke Palmer turned to fashion history for the occasion, wearing an archival Bob Mackie gown originally worn by Raquel Welch in 1975. The vintage design brought old Hollywood glamour to the red carpet, setting her apart from the contemporary looks worn by many of the evening’s guests. Palmer completed the outfit with Le Vian earrings and a Zydo ring.
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz wore a gold lamé bodysuit and coordinating midi skirt by Saint Laurent, finished with slingback pumps. The metallic fabric gave the outfit its impact, while the close-fitting silhouette and simple styling kept the focus on the garments. The look reflected Anthony Vaccarello’s use of gold throughout his Spring 2027 collection.
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams chose a strapless black velvet gown by Colleen Allen, who received the Emerging Designer of the Year award. Twisted detailing introduced shape into the otherwise restrained silhouette, while a statement necklace provided contrast against the dark fabric. The look placed the emphasis on the gown’s construction and the relationship between its neckline and jewellery.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore wore a custom GapStudio gown designed by Zac Posen. The halterneck design drew on the construction of Gap’s jeans, transforming denim into a floor-length eveningwear silhouette. Rather than relying on traditional gown fabrics or elaborate embellishment, the design used its cut and denim construction to create a formal look with recognisable American sportswear influences.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o also chose GapStudio, wearing a cropped top with gathered detailing, a matching skirt and a denim jacket. The contrast between the coordinated separates and casual outerwear gave the outfit a different character from Demi Moore’s denim gown. Nyong’o completed the look with Tiffany & Co. jewellery, including Elsa Peretti teardrop earrings and Bone cuffs.
Mona Tougaard
Mona Tougaard wore a colour-blocked design by Lii, the label founded by Zane Li. The contrasting sections of colour defined the outfit, creating a graphic effect without relying on heavy embellishment. Its construction and colour placement offered a different approach to red-carpet dressing, while bringing attention to one of the younger labels represented at the ceremony. Li was among the designers shortlisted for the 2026 CFDA Emerging Designer award.
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning wore Coach by Stuart Vevers, pairing a pale pink slip dress with a floor-length leather trench coat. The delicate dress contrasted with the structure and weight of the outerwear, giving the look a balance of softer eveningwear and more substantial layering. An embellished Coach bag completed the outfit. The label’s approach to American fashion was also explored in STORY’s New York Fashion Week 2026 report.
Tinashe
Tinashe wore a colourful coordinated ensemble by Christopher John Rogers, whose designs frequently explore contrasting colours and exaggerated proportions. The outfit offered an alternative to the evening’s more traditional gowns, using colour and silhouette as its main features. The coordinated styling kept the different elements connected, giving the look a distinctive presence on the red carpet.
Shaboozey
Shaboozey wore Ralph Lauren, combining a cream blazer with a white vest, button-down shirt and jeans. A bolo necklace and turquoise-accented belt introduced Western influences, complementing the traditional tailoring of the jacket. The layered shirting, denim and jewellery reflected his established approach to dressing while offering an alternative to a conventional formal suit.
Rosé
Rosé wore a metallic gold two-piece by Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello. The outfit featured a cropped top and matching skirt with a thigh-high slit, completed with gold sandals. The coordinated metallic finish, exposed midriff and high slit distinguished the look from the more covered silhouettes seen elsewhere at the ceremony. It was another example of the gold designs from Saint Laurent’s Spring 2027 collection appearing on the red carpet.
